Chiefs' rag-tag offense can't keep up with Falcons
BY DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press
Monday, September 10, 2012
9/10/12 at 2:37 AM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Chiefs were without their best pass rusher, their top coverage cornerback, a stalwart on the defensive line and a reliable safety who hardly ever misses a game.
Tough way to face the potent Atlanta Falcons in the season opener.
The rag-tag Kansas City defense couldn't slow down Matt Ryan and Co. on Sunday, and the Chiefs offense couldn't keep up. The result was a 40-24 defeat that was only close for a half.
"It's only one game in a long season," said Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel, who threw for 258 yards and contributed two touchdowns but also committed three turnovers that led to points.
"We obviously have to make a lot of corrections and get better as a football team. We've got to play collectively," Cassel said. "We've got a lot of resilient guys in there. We're going to get back to work and get this thing fixed."
The team doctors may be more valuable than the coaching staff in that respect.
Starting safety Kendrick Lewis (right shoulder), cornerback Brandon Flowers (right heel) and defensive tackle Anthony Toribio (right ankle) were inactive due to injuries, while Pro Bowl pass rusher Tamba Hali was suspended for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
Little wonder Ryan threw for 299 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, or that Julio Jones caught six passes for 108 yards and two scores. Tony Gonzalez even added a TD catch in his return to Kansas City, just to rub a little dirt in the Chiefs' wounds.
"Simple and plain: They made plays, and we didn't," Chiefs cornerback Stanford Routt said.
Original Print Headline: Rag-tag Chiefs offense can't keep up
